Holiday Break Decluttering Checklist: What to Clear Out Before Your New Year Move

Why the Holiday Break Is the Best Time to Declutter

The holiday break offers something rare: downtime. As the year winds down, families often clean, reorganize, and evaluate what they want to bring into the new year. If you’re planning a move soon—especially in December or January—decluttering during the holiday break is the smartest way to reduce stress and moving expenses.

This checklist walks you through room-by-room decluttering strategies to ensure your upcoming move is easier, cheaper, and more organized.

Start With a Simple Rule: Keep, Donate, Toss

Every item in your home should fall into one of three categories:

• Keep (items you love or use)

• Donate (items in good condition you no longer need)

• Toss (broken, outdated, expired, or unusable items)

Set up three boxes and move through your home methodically.

Kitchen Decluttering

Holiday baking often exposes how much kitchen clutter has accumulated.

Clear out:

• Duplicate utensils

• Old pots and pans

• Mismatched containers

• Holiday items you no longer use

• Expired pantry staples

Reducing kitchen items can significantly lower packing time and weight—making your move more efficient.

Closet Clean-Out

Winter break is the ideal time to reassess clothing and seasonal wear.

Sort:

• Coats and outerwear

• Shoes

• Kids’ clothing

• Special occasion wear

• Old holiday sweaters

• Clothing that hasn’t been worn in a year

Donate gently used items to give them a new life.

Living Room & Decor

The living room often hides clutter in plain sight.

Look for:

• Old throw pillows

• Damaged decor

• Books you no longer read

• DVDs or electronics

• Toys or pet items

If you’re already packing holiday decorations, evaluate whether broken or unused décor is worth taking to your next home.

Bathroom & Linen Cabinet

Bathroom and linen spaces accumulate surprising clutter.

Sort through:

• Expired medicine

• Old skincare and haircare

• Towels past their prime

• Half-used hotel toiletries

• Duplicate appliances like curling irons or razors

Throwing out or donating (when appropriate) lightens your packing load.

Home Office & Paper Files

Before moving, digitize as much as possible.

Declutter:

• Old paperwork

• Broken office supplies

• Outdated electronics

• Manuals for items you no longer own

Shred sensitive documents before disposing.

Kids’ Rooms & Play Areas

Holiday gifts make this a perfect time to declutter toys.

Sort:

• Outgrown toys

• Puzzles with missing pieces

• Broken items

• Books they’ve outgrown

This makes room for new holiday items and reduces unnecessary moving boxes.

Garage, Attic, and Storage Spaces

These areas are the biggest decluttering wins.

Evaluate:

• Old sports equipment

• Broken tools

• Duplicates

• Holiday décor you haven’t used in years

• Old paint, chemicals, or hazardous waste (dispose properly)

These spaces often contain items you forgot you owned—so let them go before paying to move them.

Why Decluttering Saves You Money

The less you move, the less you pay.

Decluttering can reduce:

• Total moving weight

• Number of boxes

• Packing time

• Storage needs

This leads to a more affordable, efficient move.

Let Professional Packers Handle the Rest

Once you’ve decluttered, professional packers can take it from there. Alliance Relocation Services ensures:

• Fragile items are packed safely

• Electronics receive winter-safe protection

• Artwork and valuables receive custom crating

• Your entire home is packed quickly and efficiently

Decluttering + expert packing is the ultimate combination for a stress-free new year move.